Medium2 marksMultiple Choice
Working Capital ManagementWorking capital managementInventory managementSection B
This question is part of a case study — click to read the full scenario(Case 16)

Section B - Case 1: AquaHarvest Ltd

Scenario: AquaHarvest Ltd is a commercial aquaculture firm. Annual demand for their specialized fish feed is 50,000 kg. The cost of placing an order is $200. The holding cost is $0.50 per kg per year. The supplier currently charges $10 per kg but has offered a 2% bulk discount if AquaHarvest orders in quantities of 15,000 kg or more. AquaHarvest's current working capital metrics are: Receivables $400k, Payables $300k, Revenue $4m, Purchases $2m.

Ignoring the bulk discount for a moment, what is the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) for the fish feed?

ACCA · Question 20 · Working Capital Management

Section B - Case 1: AquaHarvest Ltd

Scenario: AquaHarvest Ltd is a commercial aquaculture firm. Annual demand for their specialized fish feed is 50,000 kg. The cost of placing an order is $200. The holding cost is $0.50 per kg per year. The supplier currently charges $10 per kg but has offered a 2% bulk discount if AquaHarvest orders in quantities of 15,000 kg or more. AquaHarvest's current working capital metrics are: Receivables $400k, Payables $300k, Revenue $4m, Purchases $2m.

AquaHarvest is considering moving to a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system for its fish feed to reduce holding costs to near zero.

Which of the following is the most significant risk of implementing JIT in this specific agricultural context?

Answer options:

A.

Increased holding costs due to the need for specialized storage facilities.

B.

Supply chain disruptions could lead to immediate stockouts, resulting in livestock starvation and massive revenue loss.

C.

The inability to take advantage of early settlement discounts from suppliers.

D.

A decrease in the quality of the fish feed due to frequent ordering.

How to approach this question

Consider the operational reality of aquaculture. What happens if inventory (food) runs out?

Full Answer

B.Supply chain disruptions could lead to immediate stockouts, resulting in livestock starvation and massive revenue loss.✓ Correct
Just-in-Time (JIT) minimizes inventory levels, relying on frequent, reliable deliveries. The primary risk of JIT is vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. In a biological/agricultural context like aquaculture, a stockout of feed doesn't just halt production; it can lead to the death of the livestock, causing catastrophic financial loss. Therefore, buffer inventory is often necessary despite the holding costs.

Common mistakes

Applying generic manufacturing JIT benefits/risks without considering the specific context of the scenario (living livestock).

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